The Northwest Amateur Hockey League (NWAHL) is a 16U AA and 18U AA Tier 2 youth hockey league primarily located across the Northwest region of the United States. Our mission is to establish a highly competitive youth hockey league that minimizes the need for extensive travel, particularly flying, while fostering strong regional competition. We aim to create an environment that supports the growth of local teams in the 16U and 18U divisions, allowing them to compete at a high level without leaving the region for league play.
Jarett Goodkin at Sno-King Amateur Hockey Association in Kirkland, Washington, along with Justin Mitchell at Pacific Edge Hockey Association in Sherwood, Oregon, founded NWAHL during the 2023-2024 regular hockey season. The original five 18u AA teams were Sno-King Jr. Thunderbirds, Pacific Edge Hockey Association, North Idaho Knights, Idaho Jr. Steelheads, Tri-Cities Jr. Americans. The league has now expanded for the 2024-2025 hockey season to include 16u and 18u divisions. The 16u division has 9 teams divided into three conferences, and the 18u division has 7 teams divided into three conferences. The league expects further growth in the future.
NWAHL is built for two divisions of Tier 2 hockey: 16U AA and 18U AA. Both are AA-level — competitive travel hockey a step below AAA — for players who want a high-caliber game without leaving the Northwest to find it.
16U AA is for players 15 and 16 years old — the developmental heart of the league. Nine teams compete here, split across three conferences so clubs face regional rivals more often and log fewer miles doing it.
18U AA is where the league began. This is our oldest division — 17 and 18 year olds playing their final seasons of youth hockey before juniors, college, or wherever the game takes them next. Seven teams, also grouped into three conferences.
The three-conference structure in each division is the mission in practice: keep the competition close, keep the travel regional, and keep strong local programs playing meaningful games all season long.
NWAHL Information Sheet (PDF) — the league overview document: structure, divisions, and how the season works.